DECAF - Density Estimation for Cetaceans from passive Acoustic Fixed Sensors

Abstract : Determining the density and distribution of cetacean species is fundamental to understanding their basic biology, and also to monitoring and mitigating the effect of man-made impacts on their populations. However, this task is difficult because most cetacean species occur at low density and over enormous areas, and because they spend relatively little time at the surface where they can be seen using standard, visual surveys. Our primary long-term goal is to develop and test methods for estimating cetacean density based on detecting the sounds cetaceans make underwater, using fixed hydrophones. There are many potential configurations of such devices, so if it does prove possible to estimate density reliably using passive acoustics, an important second goal (not addressed in this work) is to determine which configuration is best for each of a common suite of monitoring scenarios.